The decision to terminate a pregnancy is never easy. However, having made the decision, you just want to get on with it safely and quickly. At Gynaecare, we will give you the best care possible care, before, during and after the procedure.
Pregnancy termination (abortion) Medical and Surgical
Termination of pregnancy (surgical) is a very straightforward procedure when undertaken before 12 weeks (within the first trimester). It is simple and definitive, and is performed under intravenous sedation in our Sydney north shore clinic in Chatswood. If the pregnancy is between 12-16 weeks, we can still perform the procedure in our Chatswood clinic. Surgical termination of pregnancy (STOP) is a suction curette and takes around 10-15 minutes. After 16 weeks the procedure needs to be undertaken over 2 days.
Medical termination is the process by which a pregnancy is terminated, without a surgical procedure, and involves the taking of 2 types of medicine, one which ends the pregnancy, (mifepristone or RU 486) and 36-48 hrs later, the first medication is followed by the second; misoprostol, which expels the pregnancy. The medication (mifepristone or RU 486) which is used to end the pregnancy, is licensed for use in Australia for pregnancies up to 63 days (9 weeks from date of last normal menstrual period). After taking both types of medication, you should miscarry the pregnancy in your own home, without the need for anaesthetic. There will be pain and bleeding, with a medical termination of pregnancy, as it is inducing a miscarriage. There is a slightly higher incidence of failure of medical termination of pregnancy, over surgical termination of pregnancy, which may mean that you have to have a dilatation and curettage to complete the procedure.
If you decide to opt for a termination of pregnancy (surgical or medical), we can assist you. For a surgical termination, you will need to be in our clinic for about 2-3 hours in total and will require someone to drive you home. You should be able to go back to work the next day. For a medical termination, you can attend the clinic or undergo Medical Abortion via Telehealth. You will experience pain and bleeding (sometimes heavy) for about 6 hours after the second dose of medication and continued bleeding for up to 2-3 weeks.
We will undertake an ultrasound scan, prior to the termination of pregnancy, to check on your dates, and afterwards to ensure there is not a continuing pregnancy. For the surgical termination, this is done immediately post operatively, and for a medical termination, is done at the 4 week check.